[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4200-4201]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2014


  Recognizing the Contributions of State Representative Karen Castor 
                                 Dentel

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month, to recognize State Representative Karen Castor Dentel. Karen is 
a third-generation Floridian raised in Tampa. She earned a degree in 
Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University, a Masters from UNC 
Chapel Hill, and a PhD from the University of Florida.
  Karen taught in a number of local elementary schools before her 
passion for teaching led her to become a voice for education in 
Tallahassee. When state policies regarding teacher evaluations and an 
increasing emphasis on testing began affecting her students, children, 
and colleagues, Karen sought election to the Florida House of 
Representatives in order to make an impact on education policies. In 
2012 she was elected as State Representative for District 30 covering 
parts of Orange and Seminole counties.
  Karen comes from a long line of public servants. Her mother, Betty 
Castor served in the Florida Senate and as Florida's Commissioner of 
Education. Her stepfather, Sam Bell also served in Florida's House of 
Representatives. Her father, Don Castor was a judge and her brother 
Frank is currently a judge in south Florida. Finally, her sister U.S. 
Representative Kathy Castor currently serves Hillsborough County in the 
United States Congress.
  Karen is married to Eric Dentel and has two children, Wyatt and 
Caroline. An active member of her community, Karen is involved with the 
Maitland, Winter Park, and Greater Seminole Chambers of Commerce, and 
the League of Women Voters. She is a former member of the Junior League 
of Greater Orlando and a former Board member of the Orange County 
Regional History Center, where she chaired the Education Committee. 
Karen and her family are members of the First Congregational Church of 
Winter Park. In her spare time, Karen enjoys learning about Florida 
history, birding, reading, and spending time with her family and 
friends.
  Karen is delighted to continue her family's legacy of service and is 
grateful for the honor of representing the Central Floridians of 
District 30.
  I am happy to honor State Representative Karen Castor Dentel, during 
Women's History Month, for her leadership and service to the Central 
Florida community.


              Recognizing the Contributions of Amy Ritter

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize Amy Ritter. Amy, a 27-year-old communications and activist 
powerhouse, has made her mark on Florida politics through her 
innovative messaging and organizing skills. Her ``Pink Slip Rick'' 
campaign was one of the most dynamic branding campaigns in Florida's 
recent political history.
  Born in Chicago, Amy's family moved to Coral Springs, Florida, in 
1992. She attended public school and graduated from Broward College in 
2006 with High Honors and an Associate's Degree in Political Science. 
Amy became part of the Gator Nation in 2007 and graduated with a 
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a minor in International 
Development and Humanitarian Assistance.
  While at the University of Florida, Amy interned on a local campaign 
that successfully fought for maintaining LGBT civil rights in 
Gainesville. The campaign helped Amy realize that universal change can 
start in one small town, or with just one person.
  In 2009, Amy moved to Orlando and continued her work on local and 
congressional races until she was hired as Director of Research for 
Florida Watch Action in 2011. Amy helped propel Florida Watch Action to 
the national spotlight with the cutting-edge ``Pink Slip Rick'' 
campaign, a branding campaign on Governor Rick Scott. Through the 
campaign, Amy helped galvanize middle class Floridians state-wide. 
``Pink Slip Rick,'' which quickly became a movement, would go on to 
serve as a model for progressive groups throughout the country. Amy 
also launched Florida's first legislative tracking program, for which 
she received the Florida Netroots Nation ``Rookie Activist of the 
Year'' award in 2011.
  During the 2012 presidential election, Amy served as Field Director 
for the Orange County democratic campaign and was a delegate to the 
Democratic National Convention.
  Saint Petersblog named Amy one of ``30 under 30'' rising stars in 
Florida politics in 2013. She noted that her inspiration came from her 
father and a lifelong sense of urgency to stand up against injustice. 
Also in 2013, Amy became Director of Communications for the Orange 
County Tax Collector, Office of Scott Randolph, where she has 
transformed the office's communications, online, and social media 
presence.
  Amy has served on the boards of the Orange County Democratic 
Executive Committee and the Democratic Women's Club of Greater Orlando. 
In 2014, she founded the Orlando chapter of the New Leader's Council, a 
progressive fellowship program for young professionals. A firm believer 
in equality and equal access, Amy remains committed to advocacy and 
supporting social justice organizations such as Planned Parenthood, 
Organize Now, and Equality Florida.
  I am happy to honor Amy Ritter, during Women's History Month, for her 
passion and service to the Central Florida Community.


              Recognizing the Contributions of Daryl Flynn

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize Daryl Flynn. Ms. Flynn was first elected to the Orange County 
School Board in 2006. She is a native of Florida and was educated in 
the Sarasota County public school system. She received an AA from 
Manatee Jr. College and a BA in political science from Florida Southern 
College in Lakeland, Florida. She holds an MPA from Florida Atlantic 
University with an emphasis on environmental growth management.
  Prior to joining the school board, Flynn was an active member of the 
PTA at the local, county, and state levels for more than 15 years and 
served as chair of her son's middle school SAC. She was president of 
the Orange County Council of PTA from 2001-2002. Flynn also served on 
both the Orange County Public School (OCPS) Reapportionment Committee 
and the Superintendent's Accountability Committee in 2001. She was also 
a member of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Education. In December 2009, Ms. 
Flynn became a Certified Board Member through the Florida School Boards 
Association.
  Flynn's community involvement, both past and present, includes the 
East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, the East Orange County Relay for 
Life, and the East Orange County Kiwanis Club. She is also a member of 
the Orange County League of Women Voters and serves on the Board of 
Directors for Magic Curtain Productions.
  Flynn's professional career includes environmental and emergency 
response planning, as well as meeting planning. She has been a 
franchised Jazzercise Instructor with active status since 1983 and now 
teaches at the Waterford Lakes Jazzercise Center.
  Ms. Flynn lives with her husband, Jim, in the Waterford Lakes area. 
They have one son, Jimmy, who is a graduate of University High School 
and the University of Central Florida.
  I am happy to honor Daryl Flynn, during Women's History Month, for 
her service to the Central Florida community.


             Recognizing the Contributions of Sheri Morton

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize the service of Sheri Morton. For over 45 years, Sheri Morton 
has been an active and dedicated volunteer for progressive causes. From 
the peace, civil rights, and women's movements in the 1960s to voting 
and equal rights in the 2010s, Sheri has volunteered tens of thousands 
of hours to making our community, and our country, a better place to 
live. Sheri has been a longtime supporter of quality, affordable health 
care for all Americans a goal which has been the major impetus and 
inspiration for her extensive volunteer efforts.
  Mrs. Morton began volunteering as a teenager and continued doing so 
throughout her time at Harvard College. She earned a Masters Degree 
from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she was later 
employed. Sheri went on to become an attorney after receiving her J.D. 
Now retired, she continues actively volunteering and advocating for 
important issues, often donating more than 50 hours of service a week.
  Over the years, Sheri has volunteered for over a hundred political 
candidates. Currently, she serves as Secretary of the Democrats of 
Celebration, as well as Campaign Committee Chair. She is a Precinct 
Committeewoman on the Osceola Democratic Executive Committee and a 
member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of 
Florida. She is also a member of the Osceola County Library Advisory 
Board.
  Sheri has traveled extensively. She has spent significant time in 
Mexico, Spain and Israel and visited Morocco, Egypt, Japan, Taiwan, 
China, Canada, and various European countries. These journeys have 
contributed to her progressive global perspective on issues.
  Her volunteer work has ranged from teaching English to immigrants and 
tutoring a blind student in high school math to collecting food for 
Appalachia's needy and warm clothes for the homeless.
  When her husband was asked what his biggest success has been, he did 
not hesitate before responding, ``My wife!''

[[Page 4201]]

  Some of Sheri's numerous current volunteer efforts include 
encouraging Floridians to enroll in health insurance under the 
Affordable Care Act and urging the state of Florida to expand Medicaid.
  For Sheri, volunteering is serious business. Through good times and 
bad, triumphs and setbacks, Sheri has continued to volunteer, working 
to improve the quality of life for people in Florida, our country and 
the world.
  I am happy to honor Sheri Morton, during Women's History Month, for 
her dedication to volunteering and advocacy.


        Recognizing the Leadership of Barbara M. Jenkins, Ed.D.

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize the service of Dr. Barbara Jenkins, an educator who has been 
serving the needs of students for more than 25 years. Dr. Jenkins was 
named Superintendent for Orange County Public Schools in 2012.
  As the former Deputy Superintendent for Orange County, she served as 
the superintendent's designee, overseeing five area superintendents and 
the division of Teaching and Learning. In her prior tenure as Chief of 
Staff, she also oversaw Human Resources, Public Relations, Labor 
Relations, and Strategic Planning and served as the chief negotiator 
for the district. She also coordinated executive functions for the 
district and provided support to the school board.
  From 1998 through 2005, she was the Assistant Superintendent of Human 
Resources for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district in North 
Carolina. As Assistant Superintendent, she was responsible for Employee 
Relations, Licensure, Benefits, Information Systems, Compensation and 
Employment. During her time in Charlotte, she was recognized for her 
innovative strategies which increased equity among schools, including 
accelerated staffing strategies, teacher incentives, and the use of a 
balanced scorecard.
  Dr. Jenkins received her undergraduate and doctor of education 
degrees from the University of Central Florida. She previously served 
as Senior Director for Elementary Education in Orange County, where she 
supervised principals and schools. She has also been a classroom 
teacher, staff developer, and principal.
  Dr. Jenkins is a fellow of the nationally recognized Broad Urban 
Superintendents Academy. She was named the 2013 District Data Leader of 
the Year by the Florida Department of Education. In addition, she was 
honored with a Professional Achievement Award from the University of 
Central Florida College of Education and Human Performance in November 
2013.
  Deeply engaged in the community, Dr. Jenkins serves on the board of 
the United Arts of Central Florida, the Winter Park Health Foundation, 
the YMCA of Central Florida, the Central Florida Regional Commission on 
Homelessness, and the Orange County Youth Mental Health Commission. 
Recognizing her commitment and influence, an Orlando Sentinel-hosted 
survey of ``informed'' Central Floridians voted Dr. Jenkins the ninth 
most powerful person in Central Florida in December 2013. Orlando 
Magazine also recognized her as one of the ``50 Most Powerful People in 
Orlando'' in July 2013.
  I am happy to honor Barbara Jenkins, during Women's History Month, 
for her dedication and commitment to education.


           Recognizing the Contributions of Rosemary DuRocher

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize Rosemary DuRocher. A retired Guidance Counselor, Rosemary 
graduated from Immaculata College, and has a Master's Degree from 
Rollins College and a Doctorate from the University of Florida.
  During her career, Rosemary worked as a teacher in the Executive 
Internship Program in the Orange County Public School system and as a 
Counselor and Director of the Winter Park High School Guidance 
Department. Prior to retiring, she set up the Guidance Department at 
the Florida Virtual School.
  While working full-time Rosemary was always active in the community. 
She served as President of the League of Women Voters, was appointed to 
serve on Governor Bob Graham's Task Force on the Criminal Justice 
System, and chaired a task force on Women in the County Jail.
  Politics has been a lifelong interest of Rosemary. Every election 
season you will find her active in campaigns.
  Rosemary is active in her church. She has served as Chair of the 
Committee on Ministry, co-chaired the Canvass Committee, and served on 
the interim search committee. Currently, Rosemary facilitates a 
discussion group at Orlando Lutheran Towers and serves on the 
activities committee.
  Rosemary was married to Joe DuRocher for almost 51 years. She is the 
mother of three children, Beth Little, John DuRocher, and Mike 
DuRocher, and the grandmother of two.
  I am happy to honor Rosemary DuRocher, during Women's History Month, 
for her contributions to the Central Florida community.

                          ____________________